Boys

I have three brothers and two sisters.

You would think I’ve seen it all but I haven’t. Nope. Like this…

This thing Benjamin does when the mood strikes, or when we have a far distance to walk to in a rush. In this case we were dashing to a bush so he could pee because the church was all locked and there were people praying very loudly in a room near the other bathroom.

So back to the thing.

Benjamin crouches down on all fours, starts growling and then starts leaping like a possessed person. Note the hooked hand that adds an extra special freak out effect.

It really, really creeps me out. And while other parents at the playground or wherever see this and say, “how funny” or “how cute”, I’m standing there like, “seriously? That doesn’t look totally freaky to you?”

And don’t try talking to him when he’s leaping or growling or whatever it is because he will only snarl back at you.

Thankfully when he’s all through my Benjamin comes back but it’s only to laugh at the expression on Mommy’s face.

And then I just want to kiss him up like crazy.

—-

I would write more but I’m still sick. Turns out when you start your own business and become a full time blogger in the span of three weeks your body gets mad at you. The doctor says it’s bronchitis but it feels like the plague.

I took this picture of her last weekend. I just love her so much and it’s so hard to watch her go through this knowing there’s little I can do to actually take away the pain. I can’t tell her it will all be better soon because I know it won’t – it takes time.

And despite the time it takes to heal from what he did, it takes even longer to adjust to single motherhood.

Time though is a wonderful thing because it’s always, always moving. I remember when I would tell myself “just get through the next hour” and then it turned into “just get through the next day” and eventually “the next month”.

Now it’s the opposite, I want time to slow down so I can “enjoy this minute, enjoy this hour, enjoy it all because I’m home free.”

She’ll get there. She will. And when she does we’ll go out and get shitfaced to celebrate. And I’ll say, “I told you it would all get better,” and she’d say, “I know, I know you did and it’s SO amazing.”

Related posts:

Been reading your blog for about a week now after having seen you at The Ohio Growth Summit. Gave it a glance, liked it, kept coming back. Might be because a friend who follows your blog asked about you AS SOON AS she found out I was at the conference where you were. She's a big fan. Made me want to read even more to find out why.

I love your healthy outlook on life, and your perspective. Even in this post, Benjamin's crawl / walk creeps you out, but you don't make a big thing out of it with him. You get that it's just a little boy thing. Nothing to freak out about. Very refreshing. (I confess I was the son of a single mom and that didn't go so well. Thank goodness she found her Prince Charming.)

Speaking of healthy – I hope you feel better soon. Seems like you've been sick since last week – or longer? Take care of yourself so you can keep putting up this awesome content. Thanks!

My daughter IS a lion frequently. She pulls out a roar when she is frustrated or anxious and can't do anything else. I find it freaky too, but most everyone else thinks it's cute. I figure it's a phase, she must grow out of it sometime.

That picture of Mia is beautiful. And it reminds me that even in the midst of the hardest time (the beginning of single motherhood especially) there is that part in us that wants to grow and shine and beam with life.

Gonna hop over now and read her writing in the forum.

Rest up my dear Alaina! Honoree and I are so excited to have you as our first guest of the Single Mom Revolution Radio show.

My son used to be a dog named "freckles" and I had to call him "freckles" as he crawled and barked around everywhere. And dont dare call him by his name…he would go crazy…lol now i only wish he would do those cute things. he is 14 now, enough said about that age…ugh

My son would travel caped and only respond as Prince Phillip or Batman for a while. Then there was my daughter who would be a dog, seriously, every morning around age 2-4. She wouldn't talk no matter what I said. Just pant and bark and walk on all fours, a mischevious smile on her face the whole while. Don't be creeped out; he's such a cutie! Time will do it for your friend, as you know. But it's hard; she's lucky to have you.

My 10 month old daughter makes this snarly growling face all the time, and people think it's adorable, and she seems to get a kick out of it herself. She does it so often that it's starting to creep me out a bit. Let's hope both your son and my daughter outgrow this stuff. Hope you feel better soon.